The Titans are 0-4, and that record is already pushing the conversation in one direction: what veteran pieces make sense to move before the Nov. 10 trade deadline?
Sunday’s 24-18 loss to the Ravens left Tennessee still searching for its first win, and it also sharpened the reality facing general manager Mike Borgonzi. He’s trying to turn a rebuilding roster into something competitive, but every defeat makes it harder to ignore the idea of dealing veterans for draft capital.
That’s not a foreign concept for this team, either. The Titans traded Dre’Mont Jones, Jarvis Brownlee, and Roger McCreary in-season last year, and more losses could put them in position to start thinking even further ahead, with the 2027 NFL Draft in view.
Three names stand out as players the Titans should at least consider moving.
Tony Pollard is the cleanest fit. The veteran running back is in a contract year, and the odds of him being part of Borgonzi’s plans in 2027 look slim.
A trade would open the door for Nicholas Singleton and give Tennessee a better read on whether he can be part of the backfield solution next season. Pollard also should draw interest because he’s been a steady, down-to-down runner.
Cody Barton is another veteran who could be on the move. He’s still playing ahead of Cedric Gray, opposite Anthony Hill, even though the Ravens targeted him in coverage on Sunday and hit Zay Flowers for a 55-yard explosive play.
Barton brings maturity and leadership, but he doesn’t look like part of Tennessee’s long-term answer. If another team values that experience, the Titans should take the draft capital.
Then there’s Calvin Ridley. The question here is whether the aging receiver would even bring back meaningful value, but Borgonzi could lean on Ridley’s track record as a multi-time 1,000-yard receiver.
Tennessee is likely to release him next offseason anyway, which makes his contract easier to move now. And with Carnell Tate, Wan’Dale Robinson, Elic Ayomanor, and Chimere Dike all under contract through at least 2028, the Titans have younger pieces already in place.
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The move comes with some context attached, since the defense held up well without him and the staff now has room to be deliberate about the next step. Saleh has pointed to Taylor's effort in adjusting to the nickel spot and his positive response to being benched, but the bigger question is whether that new alignment becomes a real solution for a secondary that is still being sorted out. [Read more 🡒]
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Titans Win Changed Nothing About One Tough Deadline Decision
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With the trade deadline nearing, several recognizable names could draw attention if the Titans decide draft capital matters more than holding the current core together. Jeffery Simmons, Amani Hooker, Tony Pollard and Alonte Taylor all sit in that uneasy space where value, contract status and team direction start to intersect, and for a front office trying to balance the present with the future, those choices can be a lot tougher than the scoreboard suggests. [Read more 🡒]